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· Conor Welsch
Photo Credit: Acacia Reynolds
There’s no hiding my admiration for the music coming out of the land down under. Today I want to shine life to a newer group. At ~44K monthly Spotify listeners, Cheeky Leash is your new find for the summer. The bands debut EP The Burrow is the sound of a band finding their footing, and doing it with a grin. The Wollongong quartet doesn’t overcomplicate things. They don’t need to. Across six tracks, they lean on sharp hooks, energetic arrangements, and a sonic palette that feels both sun bleached and bar ready.
This is coastal guitar music that lives in the real world: garage ready, festival capable, and built for turntables.
Clocking in at under 25 minutes, The Burrow doesn’t waste time. It opens with “Red,” a punchy, riff-driven opener that sets the tone. Urgent, bright, and just a little unhinged. “Pack It Up” keeps the momentum rolling, carried by tight rhythm work and a hook that feels custom-built for crowd response.
“Feeling Fine” leans back into groove, offering a clean contrast with woozy vocals and mid-tempo ease. “S.O.S” brings the energy back up with a little more grit and bite. Fuzzy guitars, locked-in drums, and a chorus that cuts through.
“Paycheck” feels like the EP’s emotional center. Jangly and conversational with a delivery that hits like advice from a friend. Closer “Sideways” lands the plane without fanfare, letting the band stretch just slightly into something looser, more lived in.
Chris Mott’s vocals ride a clean line between conversational and emotionally cut. He’s not forcing edge, but it’s there when needed. Lead guitarist Brody Blackman adds tasteful accents rather than trying to overtake songs. There’s clarity in the roles here. Everyone knows what they’re doing, and the performances benefit.
The rhythm section (Brad Heffernan on bass, Jayden Cano on drums) is crisp, dry, and locked in. It’s a setup that feels born from rooms with no monitors and plenty of feedback.
The Burrow isn’t out on wax, yet. But it should be. The tones are rich. The arrangements breathe. And most importantly, it sounds like a set you’d want to sit down and spin, not just stream and forget. There’s charm in the looseness and commitment in the execution.
If pressed to 12" with a minimalist jacket and bold center labels, this record could become a regional classic. The kind of debut you hold onto long after the band breaks through.
Cheeky Leash doesn’t reinvent the wheel with The Burrow. They don’t need to. They’re writing songs that work. Songs that hit. Songs that show up well in a room full of strangers.
It’s honest, hooky, and human. And that’s the best way to start.
Best Tracks: “Pack It Up,” “Paycheck,” “Sideways”
For Fans Of: Hockey Dad, Skegss, The Rions, San Cisco